The people behind the research
Nicholas Fiacco, MD
Dr. Fiacco is a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist. He founded Element Clinical Research to bring rigorous, specialist-led clinical trials in metabolic and endocrine disease to Durham and the surrounding Triangle.
As a practicing physician, he brings the clinician's perspective to every protocol — ensuring studies are conducted with scientific integrity and genuine attention to participant experience.
Tanya Munger, DNP, FNP-BC
Dr. Munger brings 25 years of nurse practitioner experience and a Duke University endocrinology fellowship to her role as sub-investigator. She currently practices in Duke Health's Division of Endocrinology and serves as a clinical instructor at the Duke University School of Nursing.
A frequent invited speaker at national conferences and a featured expert with outlets including Medscape and Fox News Health, she developed Duke's Urgent Hyperglycemia Clinic and brings deep clinical fluency in diabetes technology, GLP-1 therapies, and endocrine disease management to every study visit.
Mia Sharrock, CCRP
Mia is a Certified Clinical Research Professional with a Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences and years of hands-on coordination experience in metabolic and academic clinical research, including peer-reviewed publications.
She manages day-to-day study operations — participant visits, data quality, and regulatory compliance — and is the friendly first point of contact for study volunteers.